Why should you care? He’s the founder of Wynkoop Brewing Co., a must-do for any Texan traveling to Denver and an unqualified success story of urban renewal.

When Hickenlooper opened the brewery/restaurant 22 years ago, it was a first in Denver. It also helped spark a revitalization of the city’s downtown and it now anchors a thriving scene around the Colorado Rockies’ Coors Field.

When I heard him speak last year, I was struck by his enthusiasm — not just for good beer, although he was very enthusiastic about that. I was particularly impressed with his conviction that every great city needs to have a brewery.

WASH. VOTERS COOL TO LIQUOR-LAW CHANGES: In Washington state, voters rejected one of two initiatives to change liquor laws. The other measure — strongly supported by retail discounter Costco and adamantly opposed by beer distributors — was trailing as votes were still being counted.

Both measures would have ended the state’s exclusive right to sell liquor.

Both I-1100 and I-1105 would abolish the state’s current monopoly on liquor distribution and sales in favor of private businesses.

But I-1100 goes further, allowing retailers like Costco to buy beer, wine and spirits directly from manufacturers instead of going through distributors. It also eliminates price controls and other regulations, such as bans against volume discounts and paying on credit, that exist for beer and wine distribution and sales.

I-1105 would have kept in place state laws that protect beer and wine distributors, and would also have kept in place prohibitions on bulk discounts for beer and wine but would have allowed them for sales of hard liquor.

That campaign [to defeat both measures] raised $9.1 million, most of it from beer distributors, large beer manufacturers and unions representing the nearly 1,000 workers expected to lose their jobs if the state gets out of the liquor business.

The Times had endorsed the Costco-backed effort but not the other one. The editorial is worth reading.

CALIF. SAYS NO TO POT: On a beachfront stroll in Venice, you’ll be forgiven for forgetting that marijuana is still against the law in California. You’ll get plenty of come-ons from “clinics” offering to issue you a medical-marijuana card, good for whatever might ail you.

Supporters of Proposition 19 blamed Tuesday’s outcome on the conservative leanings of older voters who participate in midterm elections. They also acknowledged that young voters had not turned out in sufficient numbers to secure victory, but said they were ready to try again in two years.